Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PORTABLE COOLING SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent
Application
Ser. No. 62/831,395, filed 04/09/2019, the contents of which are herein
incorporated by
reference in their entirety.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
[0002] All publications and patent applications mentioned in this
specification are herein
incorporated by reference in their entirety, as if each individual publication
or patent
application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by
reference in its
entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0003] This disclosure relates generally to the field of refrigeration, and
more specifically
to the field of portable refrigeration. Described herein are portable cooling
systems, devices,
and methods.
BACKGROUND
[0004] Over 5 million U.S. residents take drugs that require
refrigeration within a
narrow temperature range. Globally, the number is many times that. These drugs
typically
cost thousands of dollars yearly and are often critical for patient health.
Storage of these
drugs is key since any significant time outside of a recommended temperature
range will
reduce their efficacy. Almost half of the top fifty prescribed drugs require
refrigeration and
all fifty have requirements of being stored below a maximum temperature.
Problematically,
in two recent studies, less than one in eight patients stored their drugs
within the
recommended temperature range over a three-month period.
[0005] Primary options currently used for drug storage are kitchen, work,
and hotel
refrigerators. However, refrigerators may be contaminated with mold or other
foreign
substances and the temperature control is inadequate or provides uneven
temperature. In
shared spaces, even in the home, the refrigerator may be accessible to other
people who may
move or damage the drug. Shared refrigerators also do not enable privacy for
users requiring
the medication. Finally, not all hotel rooms have refrigerators. Beyond
primary storage needs,
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additional problems arise in safely cooling and securing these drugs while
traveling (e.g.,
commuting, business travel, or vacation travel). The current standard method
of traveling
with refrigerated drugs is to use ice packs. While convenient, they give no
indication of the
drug's temperature while traveling and only provide a limited time to keep the
drugs within
the required temperature range. Ice or ice packs can even bring the
temperature of the drug
below 32 F which can freeze the drug and reduce its efficacy.
[0006] Thus, there is a need for new and more accurate portable cooling
devices to
address the many weaknesses of the current storage and/or transport options.
SUMMARY
[0007] There is a need for new and useful portable cooling systems,
devices, and
methods. In particular, there is a need for systems, devices, and methods that
accurately
maintain internal temperature despite fluctuating external temperatures.
[0008] One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a portable cooling
device. In
some embodiments, the device includes: a thermoelectric cooler including a
first side and a
second side opposite the first side; a probe configured to measure a
temperature inside the
portable cooling device; a compartment fan configured to circulate air in the
portable cooling
device, the air having been cooled by the first side of the thermoelectric
cooler; an exhaust
fan at least partially positioned in the portable cooling device and in
communication with an
environment external to the portable cooling device, such that the exhaust fan
is configured to
vent heat from the second side to the external environment; and a power source
configured to
receive a range of input voltages. In some embodiments, a first input voltage
results in a first
temperature differential between an internal environment in the portable
cooling device and
the external environment and a second input voltage results in a second
temperature
differential between the internal environment and the external environment.
[0009] Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a portable
cooling device. In
some embodiments, the device includes: a housing comprising: a holder; a
thermoelectric
cooler including a first side and a second side opposite the first side; a
probe configured to
measure a temperature inside the holder; a compartment fan positioned in the
housing and
configured to circulate air in the housing, the air having been cooled by the
first side of the
thermoelectric cooler; an exhaust fan at least partially positioned in the
housing and in
communication with an environment external to the housing, such that the
exhaust fan is
configured to vent heat from the second side to the environment; and a power
source
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configured to receive a range of input voltages. In some embodiments, a first
input voltage
results in a first temperature differential between an internal environment in
the housing and
the environment external to the housing and a second input voltage results in
a second
temperature differential between the internal environment and the environment
external to the
housing.
[0010] Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a portable
cooling device
including: an inner housing comprising: a holder, a probe configured to
measure a
temperature inside the inner housing, and a compartment fan positioned in the
inner housing
and configured to circulate cooled air in the inner housing; a thermoelectric
cooler
comprising a first side and a second side opposite the first side, such that
the thermoelectric
cooler is adjacent to the inner housing; an exhaust fan in communication with
an environment
external to the portable cooling device, such that the exhaust fan is
configured to vent heat
from the second side of the thermoelectric cooler to the environment; and a
power source
configured to receive a range of input voltages to achieve a desired
temperature differential
between an internal environment in the inner housing and the external
environment.
[0011] In any of the preceding embodiments, a first input voltage results
in a first
temperature differential between the internal environment in the inner housing
and the
environment external to the portable cooling device and a second input voltage
results in a
second temperature differential between the internal environment and the
environment
external to the portable cooling device.
[0012] In any of the preceding embodiments, the device further includes
an outer
housing such that inner housing is positioned within the outer housing, and
such that
insulation is positioned between the outer housing and the inner housing.
[0013] In any of the preceding embodiments, the device further includes
one or more
channels extending axially along a length of the inner housing, between the
inner housing and
the outer housing, for circulating air from the thermoelectric cooler.
[0014] In any of the preceding embodiments, the compartment fan is
oriented towards
the inner housing, such that cooled air passes through the inner housing and
then through the
one or more channels.
[0015] In any of the preceding embodiments, the compartment fan is
oriented away
from the inner housing, such that cooled air passes through the one or more
channels and then
through inner housing.
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[0016] In any of the preceding embodiments, the exhaust fan is at least
partially
positioned in the outer housing.
[0017] In any of the preceding embodiments, the holder comprises two or
more
holders. In any of the preceding embodiments, the holder comprises a scale to
measure a
weight of a receptacle positioned therein.
[0018] In any of the preceding embodiments, the device further includes a
display
configured to indicate the weight of the receptacle positioned in the holder.
[0019] In any of the preceding embodiments, the power source comprises a
battery, a
USB, a cigarette lighter, or a wall outlet.
[0020] In any of the preceding embodiments, the device further includes a
display
configured to indicate the temperature inside the holder.
[0021] In any of the preceding embodiments, the first input voltage is
less than the
second input voltage resulting in the first temperature differential being
less than the second
temperature differential. In any of the preceding embodiments, the first input
voltage is 5
volts and the second input voltage is 6 volts. In any of the preceding
embodiments, the first
input voltage is different than the second input voltage.
[0022] In any of the preceding embodiments, the holder is configured to
hold a
receptacle comprising a pharmaceutical, a cosmetic, a consumable, or a
combination thereof.
[0023] In any of the preceding embodiments, the device further includes a
second
thermoelectric cooler configured to increase the first or second temperature
differential.
[0024] In any of the preceding embodiments, the thermoelectric cooler
functions via
convection.
[0025] In any of the preceding embodiments, the thermoelectric cooler
functions via
radiation.
[0026] In any of the preceding embodiments, the device further includes a
lid that is
reversibly couplable to the inner housing and a lock for reversibly locking
the portable
cooling device.
[0027] In any of the preceding embodiments, the device further includes a
reserve
power source for use when an external power source is unavailable or
inconvenient.
[0028] In any of the preceding embodiments, the device further includes a
first heat
sink adjacent to the compartment fan, a second heat sink adjacent to the
exhaust fan, and a
heat transfer block adjacent to the thermoelectric cooler, the heat transfer
block and the
thermoelectric cooler being positioned between the compartment fan and the
exhaust fan.
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[0029] In any of the preceding embodiments, the device further includes
an external
temperature sensor arranged to measure a temperature of the environment
external to the
inner housing.
[0030] In any of the preceding embodiments, the holder is reversibly
removable from
the inner housing.
[0031] In any of the preceding embodiments, the device further includes a
processor
configured to perform a method comprising: receiving an input voltage and a
desired internal
environment temperature; measuring a current internal environment temperature
in the
portable cooling device; calculating a temperature differential between the
desired internal
environment temperature and the current internal environment temperature; and
varying the
input voltage or a power to the thermoelectric cooler to achieve the desired
internal
environment temperature in the portable cooling device.
[0032] Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a portable
cooling
device including: a holder; a probe configured to measure a temperature inside
the holder; a
compartment fan configured to circulate cooled air in or around the holder; a
thermoelectric
cooler comprising a first side and a second side opposite the first side, such
that the
thermoelectric cooler is adjacent to the holder; an exhaust fan in
communication with an
environment external to the portable cooling device, such that the exhaust fan
is configured to
vent heat from the second side to the environment; and a power source
configured to receive
a range of input voltages to achieve a desired temperature differential
between an internal
environment in the portable cooling device and the environment external.
[0033] In any of the preceding embodiments, the device further includes
an antenna
configured to communicatively couple the portable cooling device to a remote
computing
device.
[0034] In any of the preceding embodiments, the device further includes a
remote
computing device and a display configured to indicate one or more of: a
connectivity status
between the portable cooling device and the remote computing device, a power
status of the
portable cooling device, and a temperature status of the holder or in the
holder.
[0035] In any of the preceding embodiments, the antenna is configured as
a
transceiver.
[0036] In any of the preceding embodiments, the device further includes
the remote
computing device, such that the remote computing device comprises a server, a
mobile
computing device, a wearable device, a laptop, or a desktop computer.
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[0037] In any of the preceding embodiments, the temperature measured by
the probe
is transmitted to the remote computing device.
[0038] In any of the preceding embodiments, the transmitted temperatures
are
transmitted and stored overtime to maintain a history of temperatures.
[0039] In any of the preceding embodiments, the device further includes a
scale
arranged to measure a weight of one or more receptacles positioned in the
holder, such that
the weight is transmitted to the remote computing device.
[0040] In any of the preceding embodiments, the device further includes
an inner
housing at least partially enclosing the probe, the compartment fan, the
thermoelectric cooler,
and the exhaust fan.
[0041] In any of the preceding embodiments, the device further includes
an outer
housing disposed around the inner housing, wherein insulation is positioned
between the
inner housing and the outer housing.
[0042] In any of the preceding embodiments, the exhaust fan is at least
partially
positioned in the outer housing.
[0043] In any of the preceding embodiments, the device further includes
one or more
channels extending axially along a length of the inner housing, between the
inner housing and
the outer housing, for circulating air from the thermoelectric cooler.
[0044] In any of the preceding embodiments, the compartment fan is
oriented towards
the inner housing, such that cooled air passes through the inner housing and
then through the
one or more channels.
[0045] In any of the preceding embodiments, the compartment fan is
oriented away
from the inner housing, such that cooled air passes through the one or more
channels and then
through inner housing.
[0046] In any of the preceding embodiments, the device further includes a
base
extending along an axially length of the portable cooling device, such that
the base is
positioned to contact a surface on which the portable cooling device rests.
[0047] In any of the preceding embodiments, a first input voltage results
in a first
temperature differential between the internal environment in the portable
cooling device and
the environment external to the portable cooling device and a second input
voltage results in
a second temperature differential between the internal environment and the
environment
external to the portable cooling device. In any of the preceding embodiments,
the first input
voltage is less than the second input voltage resulting in the first
temperature differential
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being less than the second temperature differential. In any of the preceding
embodiments, the
first input voltage is 5 volts and the second input voltage is 6 volts. In any
of the preceding
embodiments, the first input voltage is different than the second input
voltage.
[0048] In any of the preceding embodiments, the holder is configured to
hold a
receptacle comprising a pharmaceutical, a cosmetic, a consumable, or a
combination thereof.
[0049] In any of the preceding embodiments, the device further includes a
lid that is
reversibly couplable to the inner housing and a lock for reversibly locking
the portable
cooling device.
[0050] In any of the preceding embodiments, the device further includes a
reserve
power source for use when an external power source is unavailable or
inconvenient.
[0051] In any of the preceding embodiments, the device further includes a
first heat
sink adjacent to the compartment fan, a second heat sink adjacent to the
exhaust fan, and a
heat transfer block adjacent to the thermoelectric cooler, the heat transfer
block and the
thermoelectric cooler being positioned between the compartment fan and the
exhaust fan.
[0052] In any of the preceding embodiments, the device further includes
an external
temperature sensor arranged to measure a temperature of the environment
external to the
portable cooling device.
[0053] In any of the preceding embodiments, the holder is reversibly
removable from
the inner housing.
[0054] In any of the preceding embodiments, the device further includes a
processor
configured to perform a method comprising: receiving an input voltage and a
desired internal
environment temperature; measuring a current internal environment temperature
in the
portable cooling device; calculating a temperature differential between the
desired internal
environment temperature and the current internal environment temperature; and
varying the
input voltage or a power to the thermoelectric cooler to achieve the desired
internal
environment temperature in the portable cooling device.
[0055] Another aspect of the present disclosure includes a portable
cooling device
with no moving parts, including: a thermoelectric cooler comprising a first
side and a second
side, such that the first side is configured to cool air inside the portable
cooling device, and
the second side is configured as a housing, comprising: a holder, a probe
configured to
measure a temperature inside the holder, and a power source configured to
receive a range of
input voltages, wherein a first input voltage results in a first temperature
differential between
an internal environment in the housing and the environment external to the
housing and a
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second input voltage results in a second temperature differential between the
internal
environment and the environment external to the housing.
[0056] In any of the preceding embodiments, the first side comprises a
cool side and
the second side comprises a hot side with a heat sink.
[0057] In any of the preceding embodiments, the first side comprises a
cool side with
a heat sink and the second side comprises a hot side with a heat sink.
[0058] In any of the preceding embodiments, the device further includes
an antenna
configured to communicatively couple the portable cooling device to a remote
computing
device.
[0059] In any of the preceding embodiments, the device further includes
the remote
computing device and a display configured to indicate one or more of: a
connectivity status
between the portable cooling device and the remote computing device, a power
status of the
portable cooling device, and a temperature status of the holder or in the
holder.
[0060] In any of the preceding embodiments, the antenna is configured as
a
transceiver.
[0061] In any of the preceding embodiments, the device further includes
the remote
computing device, such that the remote computing device comprises a server, a
mobile
computing device, a wearable device, a laptop, or a desktop computer.
[0062] In any of the preceding embodiments, the temperature measured by
the probe
is transmitted to the remote computing device.
[0063] In any of the preceding embodiments, the transmitted temperatures
are
transmitted and stored overtime to maintain a history of temperatures.
[0064] In any of the preceding embodiments, the device further includes a
scale
arranged to measure a weight of one or more receptacles positioned in the
holder, such that
the weight is transmitted to the remote computing device.
[0065] In any of the preceding embodiments, the device further includes a
base
extending along an axially length of the portable cooling device, such that
the base is
positioned to contact a surface on which the portable cooling device rests.
[0066] In any of the preceding embodiments, the first input voltage is
less than the
second input voltage resulting in the first temperature differential being
less than the second
temperature differential. In any of the preceding embodiments, the first input
voltage is 5
volts and the second input voltage is 6 volts. In any of the preceding
embodiments, the first
input voltage is different than the second input voltage.
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[0067] In any of the preceding embodiments, the holder is configured to
hold a
receptacle comprising a pharmaceutical, a cosmetic, a consumable, or a
combination thereof.
[0068] In any of the preceding embodiments, the device further includes a
lid that is
reversibly couplable to the housing and a lock for reversibly locking the
portable cooling
device.
[0069] In any of the preceding embodiments, the device further includes a
reserve
power source for use when an external power source is unavailable or
inconvenient.
[0070] In any of the preceding embodiments, the device further includes
an external
temperature sensor arranged to measure a temperature of the environment
external to the
portable cooling device.
[0071] In any of the preceding embodiments, the holder is reversibly
removable from
the inner housing.
[0072] In any of the preceding embodiments, the device further includes a
processor
configured to perform a method comprising: receiving an input voltage and a
desired internal
environment temperature; measuring a current internal environment temperature
in the
portable cooling device; calculating a temperature differential between the
desired internal
environment temperature and the current internal environment temperature; and
varying the
input voltage or a power to the thermoelectric cooler to achieve the desired
internal
environment temperature in the portable cooling device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0073] The foregoing is a summary, and thus, necessarily limited in
detail. The
above-mentioned aspects, as well as other aspects, features, and advantages of
the present
technology are described below in connection with various embodiments, with
reference
made to the accompanying drawings.
[0074] FIG. 1 shows a schematic of one embodiment of a portable cooling
device.
[0075] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a portable cooling device.
[0076] FIGS. 3A-3B show a top and a bottom perspective view,
respectively, of an
external component of a lid of the device of FIG. 2.
[0077] FIGS. 4A-4B show a top and a bottom perspective view,
respectively, of an
internal component of a lid of the device of FIG. 2.
[0078] FIGS. 5A-5B show a top and a bottom perspective view,
respectively, of an
outer housing of the device of FIG. 2.
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[0079] FIGS. 6A-6B show a top and a bottom perspective view,
respectively, of a
base of the device of FIG. 2.
[0080] FIGS. 7A-7B show a top and a bottom perspective view,
respectively, of an
inner chamber of the device of FIG. 2.
[0081] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a core of the device of FIG. 2.
[0082] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a circuit board of the device
of FIG. 2.
[0083] FIG. 10 shows another embodiment of a core of a portable cooling
device.
[0084] FIG. 11 shows another embodiment of a portable cooling device.
[0085] FIG. 12 shows another embodiment of a portable cooling device
communicatively coupled to one or more remote computing devices.
[0086] FIG. 13 shows another embodiment of a portable cooling device
communicatively coupled to computing device and/or a temperature probe.
[0087] FIG. 14 shows a graphical plot illustrating a temperature
differential as a
function of the input voltage into a portable cooling device.
[0088] FIG. 15 shows a flow chart of a method of cooling using a portable
cooling
device.
[0089] FIG. 16 shows a flow chart of a method of cooling using a portable
cooling
device.
[0090] FIG. 17A shows another embodiment of a portable cooling device in
an open
configuration.
[0091] FIG. 17B shows the portable cooling device of FIG. 17A in a closed
configuration.
[0092] FIG. 17C shows one embodiment of a receptacle reversibly
insertable into the
portable cooling device of FIG. 17A.
[0093] FIG. 17D shows a cross-sectional view of the portable cooling
device of FIG.
17A.
[0094] FIG. 17E shows airflow from a compartment fan in one embodiment of
a
portable cooling device.
[0095] FIG. 17F shows airflow from a compartment fan, in an opposite
orientation to
that of FIG. 17E, of a portable cooling device.
[0096] FIG. 18A shows another embodiment of a portable cooling device in
an open
configuration with a compartment fan in a lid of the device.
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[0097] FIG. 18B shows a cross-sectional view of the portable cooling
device of FIG.
18A.
[0098] FIG. 19A shows another embodiment of a portable cooling device
including a
storage receptable including a rail system.
[0099] FIG. 19B shows another embodiment of a storage receptable fully
removed
from the portable cooling device.
[00100] FIG. 19C shows another embodiment of a storage receptable of a
portable
cooling device.
[00101] FIG. 20A shows another embodiment of a portable cooling device in
a closed
configuration.
[00102] FIG. 20B shows the portable cooling device of FIG. 20A in an open
configuration.
[00103] FIG. 21 shows another embodiment of a portable cooling device
including an
axially extending support and a user input element on a sidewall of a body of
the device.
[00104] FIG. 22 shows another embodiment of a portable cooling device
including a
user input element on a lid of the device.
[00105] FIG. 23 shows another embodiment of a portable cooling device with
various
components positioned in an axially extending support of the device.
[00106] FIG. 24 shows another embodiment of a portable cooling device
including a
cooling chamber and one or more storage chambers.
[00107] The illustrated embodiments are merely examples and are not
intended to limit
the disclosure. The schematics are drawn to illustrate features and concepts
and are not
necessarily drawn to scale.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[00108] The foregoing is a summary, and thus, necessarily limited in
detail. The above
mentioned aspects, as well as other aspects, features, and advantages of the
present
technology will now be described in connection with various embodiments. The
inclusion of
the following embodiments is not intended to limit the disclosure to these
embodiments, but
rather to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the
contemplated invention(s).
Other embodiments may be utilized and modifications may be made without
departing from
the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented herein. Aspects of the
disclosure, as
described and illustrated herein, can be arranged, combined, modified, and
designed in a
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variety of different formulations, all of which are explicitly contemplated
and form part of
this disclosure.
[00109] There are portable coolers available from several companies. These
coolers
were tested for their ability to reach and maintain a target temperature, and
all were found to
be ineffective. Their quoted specifications indicate that they can reach the
top of the
recommended range of 8 C only if the ambient temperature is 20 C (68 F) or
below. Further,
the temperature distribution inside the coolers was uneven. They all reported
a temperature
within the required range, but all were considerably above the reported range
when they were
tested with an accurate wireless thermometer. The most accurate unit displayed
an internal
temperature 10 F lower than the actual temperature. These findings reveal that
currently
available portable cooling devices are inaccurate at best for the one function
that is absolutely
critical ¨ maintaining temperature at a desired target temperature.
[00110] As such, the systems and devices described herein are configured
to cool
accurately and precisely a receptacle. In some embodiments, the receptacle
(e.g., vial,
syringe, bottle, compact, blister pack, tube, etc.) may comprise a drug,
therapeutic, cosmetic,
consumable, or other fluid or liquid contained within the receptacle.
[00111] In some embodiments, the systems and devices described herein are
configured to heat accurately and precisely a receptacle. In some embodiments,
the receptacle
(e.g., vial, syringe, bottle, compact, blister pack, tube, etc.) may comprise
a drug, therapeutic,
cosmetic, consumable, or other fluid or liquid contained within the
receptacle.
[00112] In general, the systems and devices described herein are portable.
For
example, the systems and devices described herein are configured to be
transported from a
first location to a second location, while maintaining temperature during
transport. The
systems and devices described herein are portable in that the systems and
devices can be set
up or positioned anywhere ¨ in a car, on a bathroom sink, in a hotel room,
etc. The systems
and devices described herein are also self-contained such that the cooling
system may be
positioned on the floor, on a desk, in a fridge, in a car, in a carry-on bag
(e.g., for flying), in a
bag or container that allows air exchange, etc.
[00113] In general, the systems, devices, and methods described herein are
configured
to be used and/or performed by a user. The user may be a patient, athlete,
doctor, physician,
therapist, parent, individual with a chronic illness or disorder,
cosmetologist, or any other
individual requiring a refrigeration system or device that is portable.
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[00114] Turning now to FIG. 1, which shows a schematic of one embodiment
of a
portable cooling device 100. While the components of FIG. 1 are shown in a
particular order
or stacked orientation, one of skill in the art will appreciate that the
embodiments described
herein shall not be limited to this particular order and that various
embodiments may
significantly depart from the overall structure or order of components of the
portable cooling
device shown in any of the figures described herein. The portable cooling
devices described
herein are unconstrained by appearance or housing. For example, the device 100
of FIG. 1
includes a compartment fan 2, a thermoelectric cooler 4, an exhaust fan 6, a
regulator 8, a
power transistor 10, a processor 12, a power source 14, a temperature probe
15, and an
optional display 16, each of which will be described in turn below. The
devices shown and
described herein function to cool the compartment defined by the body or
housing.
Alternatively, the devices shown and described herein may function to heat the
compartment
defined by the body or housing, for example simply by reversing the voltage on
the
thermoelectric device. In some embodiments, the housing comprises one or more
holders
and/or receptacles contained therein.
[00115] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 8, a portable
cooling
device 100 includes a compartment fan 2 and an exhaust fan 6. The compartment
fan 2
functions to distribute or circulate cooled air in the portable cooling device
100 or in a
housing of the portable cooling device 100. Warm air will tend to rise towards
the lid of the
device and the cool air will tend to settle near the thermoelectric cooler 4.
As such, holder(s)
and/or receptacle(s) in the housing may be subjected to uneven temperatures in
the absence
of compartment fan 2. As shown in FIG. 17E, compartment fan 1702 may be
oriented, as
shown by arrow 1729a, towards inner housing 1721, such that compartment fan
1702 blows
cooled air into the inner housing 1721 through to one or more channels 1724,
as shown by
airflow arrow 1727a, and then down to heat sink 1704 and compartment fan 1702.
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 17F, compartment fan 1702 may be oriented, as
shown by
arrow 1729b, away from inner housing 1721 or toward exhaust fan, such that
compartment
fan 1702 blows cooled air into one or more channels 1724 through to the inner
housing 1721,
as shown by airflow arrow 1727b. The exhaust fan 6 functions to expel or
exhaust excess
heat from the thermoelectric cooler 4 through an aperture or vent 28 (e.g., as
shown in FIG.
2) in the portable cooling device or a housing of the portable cooling device,
as described
elsewhere herein. In some embodiments, compartment fan 2 and/or exhaust fan 6
include two
or more blades. The blades may have a symmetric or asymmetric distribution
and/or shape.
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In some embodiments, an asymmetric distribution and/or shape significantly
reduces a noise
level of the fan or tunes a noise level of the fan to a preferable intensity.
[00116] In some embodiments, a portable cooling device includes one fan
with
multiple functions. In. some such embodiments, the compartment fan 2 functions
to circulate
cooled air and exhaust heated air from the thermoelectric cooler; in other
embodiments, the
exhaust fan 6 functions to circulate cooled air and exhaust heated air from
the thermoelectric
cooler. In some embodiments, as described elsewhere herein, a portable cooling
device does
not include any fans (i.e., no moving parts).
[00117] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1, a portable cooling device
100
includes a thermoelectric cooler 4. The thermoelectric cooler 4 functions to
cool air within
the portable cooling device or a housing of the portable cooling device to
cool one or more
receptacles contained within the portable cooling device, housing, and/or one
or more
holders. In some embodiments, the thermoelectric cooler 4 includes a first
side or a cold side
(optionally with a heat sink) and a second side or a hot side with a heat
sink. In some
embodiments, the first side is opposite the second side; in other embodiments,
the first side is
adjacent or proximate to the second side (e.g., first side is angled relative
to the second side,
for example about 45 to about 100 degrees; about 70 degrees to about 90
degrees, etc.).
Various thermoelectric elements (e.g., semiconductor elements, n-type
elements, p-type
elements, etc.) are disposed between the cold side and hot side. The second
side or hot side of
the thermoelectric cooler 4 may be coupled to or communicatively coupled to an
exhaust fan
6 to dispel heat from the heat sink. The thermoelectric cooler 4 further
includes a conductor
metal, for example graphene, copper, aluminum, or the like. The conductor
metal flanks
thermoelectric elements (e.g., semiconductor elements, n-type elements, p-type
elements,
etc.). The conductor metal isolates heat by transferring heat from either the
cold or hot side to
a heat sink that then transfers the heat to the air (on the hot side) or from
the air (on the cold
side). One of skill in the art will readily appreciate and understand the
structure and
functioning of thermoelectric coolers (See, e.g., He et at. "Thermoelectric
Devices: A Review
of Devices, Architectures, and Contact Optimization" Adv. Mater. Technol.
2018, 3,
1700256, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its
entirety.)
[00118] In some embodiments, a portable cooling device 100 includes a
second
thermoelectric cooler to increase a cooling capacity of the first
thermoelectric cooler 4. For
example, including a second thermoelectric cooler in series may increase an
available
temperature differential between an external environment and an internal
environment,
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whereas a second thermoelectric cooler in parallel doubles an amount of heat
that can be
removed from the internal environment in the portable cooler. The first and
second
thermoelectric coolers may function in tandem, for example in a stacked
configuration or
adjacent to each other.
[00119] In some embodiments, the thermoelectric cooler 4 is replaced with
or
supplemented with a compressor or other cooling mechanism known to one of
skill in the art.
[00120] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1, a portable cooling device
100
includes a regulator 8. The regulator 8 functions to maintain a clean and
constant voltage
level regardless of the voltage supplied to the unit. The regulator 8 may
comprise an
electromechanical regulator, an electronic voltage regulator, an automatic
voltage regulator,
or any other regulator known in the art. In some embodiments, the regulator
further includes
internal current limiting, thermal shutdown, and/or safe area compensation.
[00121] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1, a portable cooling device
100
includes a power transistor 10 (e.g., MOSFET, NPN transistor, etc.). The power
transistor 10
functions to supply power to the thermoelectric cooler 4 and allow that power
to be turned off
and on.
[00122] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1, a portable cooling device
100
includes a processor 12. The processor 12 may be a general purpose
microprocessor, a digital
signal processor (DSP), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an application
specific
integrated circuit (ASIC), or other programmable logic device, or other
discrete computer-
executable components designed to perform the functions described herein. The
processor
may also be formed of a combination of computing devices, for example, a DSP
and a
microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in
conjunction
with a DSP core, or any other suitable configuration.
[00123] In some embodiments, the processor 12 is coupled, via one or more
buses, to a
memory in order to read information from, and optionally write information to,
the memory.
The memory may be any suitable computer-readable medium that stores computer-
readable
instructions for execution by a processor 12. For example, the computer-
readable medium
may include one or more of RAM, ROM, flash memory, EEPROM, a hard disk drive,
a solid
state drive, or any other suitable device. In some embodiments, the computer-
readable
instructions include software stored in a non-transitory format. The software
may be
programmed into the memory or downloaded as an application onto the memory.
The
software may include instructions for running an operating system and/or one
or more
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programs or applications. When executed by the processor 12, the programs or
applications
may cause the processor 12 to perform a method. Some such methods are
described in more
detail elsewhere herein. In some embodiments, the processor 12 couples with an
antenna to
transmit data including temperature data and/or weight data to a computing
device, as
described elsewhere herein.
[00124] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1, a portable cooling device
100
includes a temperature probe 15 (or one or more temperature probes). In some
embodiments,
temperature probe 15 is coupled to a bottom of a wire mesh that one or more
receptacles are
contained therein or coupled to a portion or a surface of a holder contained
within the
portable cooling device 100. In some embodiments, a temperature probe 15 may
be
positioned between a compartment fan 1702 and a bottom portion 1725 of an
inner chamber
1721 of the device 1700 (as shown in FIG. 17D). As will be appreciated, the
temperature
probe 15may be positioned anywhere within or around an inner housing, within
or around an
outer housing, or within the portable cooling device. For example, the
temperature probe may
measure a cold side of a thermoelectric cooler or a region or space adjacent
to the cold side of
a thermoelectric cooler. The temperature probe 15 functions to measure a
temperature of an
internal environment of the portable cooling device 100. The internal
environment includes a
temperature of an internal compartment, a holder, and/or one or more
receptacles positioned
in the internal compartment or holder. In some embodiments, the internal
environment
includes an inner chamber or cooling chamber of the portable cooling device.
The
temperature probe 15 may include a negative temperature coefficient
thermistor, a resistance
temperature detector, a thermocouple, or a semiconductor-based sensor. The
temperature
measured by temperature probe 15 is communicated to processor 12 and
optionally displayed
by optional display 16. In some embodiments, a temperature measured by
temperature probe
15 is communicated to a remote computing device, as described elsewhere
herein.
[00125] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1, a portable cooling device
100
includes a power source 14. The power source 14 functions to provide energy or
power to
one or more components (e.g., thermoelectric cooler, fans, display, etc.) of
the portable
cooling device 100. In some embodiments, the power source comprises a battery,
a USB, a
cigarette lighter receptacle, or a wall outlet. In other embodiments, the
power source 14
includes one or more solar panels. In some embodiments, the portable cooling
device 100 is
configured to receive power from a variety of power sources, such that an
input voltage into
the portable cooling device 100 varies with the power source 14. In some such
embodiments,
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a cooling capacity of the portable cooling device 100 is dependent on the
power source used,
more specifically the input voltage from the power source 14. In some
embodiments, as the
input voltage increases, a temperature differential between an internal
compartment of the
portable cooling device 100 and the external environment increases. In some
embodiments, a
personal cooling device further includes a reserve power source, for example,
a second
battery or backup battery or rechargeable battery for use when an external
power source is
unavailable.
[00126] In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 1-2, a portable cooling
device
optionally includes a display 16 with or without touch responsive capabilities
(e.g., Thin Film
Transistor liquid crystal display (LCD), in-place switching LCD, resistive
touchscreen LCD,
capacitive touchscreen LCD, organic light emitting diode (LED), Active-Matrix
organic LED
(AMOLED), Super AMOLED, Retina display, Haptic/Tactile touchscreen, or Gorilla
Glass).
The display 16 is configured to display a temperature of an internal
compartment of the
portable cooling device 100, a holder in the portable cooling device 100,
and/or a receptacle
contained in the portable cooling device 100 or held by a holder in the
portable cooling
device 100. FIG. 11 shows an embodiment of a portable cooling device 250 that
lacks a
display. In some such embodiments, a processor communicatively coupled to the
temperature
probe may communicate a temperature of a compartment (e.g., storage
compartment, cooling
compartment, etc.) in the portable cooling device and/or one or more
receptacles therein to a
remote computing device (e.g., server, computing device, etc.), as shown in
FIGS. 12-13.
[00127] FIG. 12 shows an embodiment 400 of a portable cooling device 200
that is
communicatively coupled to one or more computing devices 60, 62. For example,
the
computing device may include a remote computing device 60, 62. Non-limiting
examples of
remote computing devices include: a server 60, a mobile computing device 62, a
wearable
device, a laptop, a notebook, a netbook, a desktop computer, or the like.
There may be one-
way or two-way communication between the portable cooling device 200 and
computing
device 62, the portable cooling device 200 and the server 60, and/or the
computing device 62
and the server 60. The portable cooling device 200, computing device 62,
and/or server 60
may communicate wirelessly using Bluetooth, low energy Bluetooth, near-field
communication, infrared, WLAN, Wi-Fi, CDMA, LTE, other cellular protocol,
other
radiofrequency, or another wireless protocol. Additionally or alternatively,
sending or
transmitting information between the portable cooling device 200, the
computing device 62,
and the server 60 may occur via a wired connection such as IEEE 1394,
Thunderbolt,
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Lightning, DVI, HDMI, Serial, Universal Serial Bus, Parallel, Ethernet,
Coaxial, VGA, or
PS/2.
[00128] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 13, a portable cooling
device 200
includes an external temperature probe 64, for example on a housing or other
surface of the
portable cooling device 200. The external temperature probe 64 is configured
to measure a
temperature of an external environment. In other embodiments, the portable
cooling device
200 is communicatively coupled to an external temperature probe 64 configured
to measure a
temperature of the external environment. Alternatively, or additionally, the
external
temperature probe 64 may be communicatively coupled to a computing device 62
or
integrated into the computing device 62. Such external environment temperature
measurements may be used to calculate a temperature differential between an
internal
environment in the portable cooling device and the external environment. There
may be one-
way or two-way communication between the portable cooling device 200 and
computing
device 62, the portable cooling device 200 and the external temperature probe
64, and/or the
computing device 62 and the external temperature probe 64. The portable
cooling device 200,
computing device 62, and/or temperature probe 64 may communicate wirelessly
using
Bluetooth, low energy Bluetooth, near-field communication, infrared, WLAN, Wi-
Fi,
CDMA, LTE, other cellular protocol, other radiofrequency, or another wireless
protocol.
[00129] In some embodiments, such as the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and
12, a
portable cooling device 100, 200 optionally includes an antenna 11. The
antenna 11 may be
located on the circuit board or in or on the housing or in or on a surface of
the portable
cooling device. The antenna 11 may function as a receiver, a transmitter, or a
transceiver (i.e.,
both transmitter and receiver). The receiver receives and demodulates data
received over a
communication network. The transmitter prepares data according to one or more
network
standards and transmits data over a communication network. In some
embodiments, a
transceiver acts as both a receiver and a transmitter for bi-directional
wireless
communication. Alternatively, or additionally, in some embodiments, a databus
is included
on the circuit board so that data can be sent from, or received by, the
portable cooling
device via a wired connection.
[00130] Further, in any of the portable cooling devices described herein,
a display on
the portable cooling device or a computing device communicatively coupled to
the portable
cooling device may be configured to indicate a connectivity status between the
portable
cooling device and the computing device (e.g., remote computing device, mobile
computing
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device, server, etc.). Alternatively, or additionally, the portable cooling
device may include a
user interface such as a light display (i.e., one or more LEDs), a speaker
that sounds a signal,
or a haptic output to indicate a connectivity status, a temperature status, a
power status, etc.
[00131] In some embodiments, the portable cooling device 100 of FIG. 1
optionally
includes a scale 13. The scale 13 may be positioned in the housing, for
example underneath,
below, or adjacent to a holder, such that the weight of one or more
receptacles in the holder
may be measured. In some such embodiments, the display 16 is configured to
display a
measured weight of the one or more receptacles or a combined weight of a
holder and one or
more receptacles therein. Alternatively, or additionally, the weight may be
transmitted to a
remote computing device, as described elsewhere herein.
[00132] In some embodiments, the portable cooling device described herein
is
configured to contain, hold, or otherwise, house a holder. The holder may
comprise two or
more holders. In some embodiments, the holder is integrally formed in the
housing, for
example an inner chamber of the housing; in other embodiments, the holder is
removably
coupled to the housing, as shown and described elsewhere herein, for example
to allow
holders of different shapes and/or sizes and/or depths and/or configurations
to be positioned
in the housing.
[00133] FIGS. 2-9 show various views and features of a portable cooling
device 200 in
accordance with the present invention. In some embodiments, a portable cooling
device 200
may include an external lid 18, an internal lid 21, a securing or locking
mechanism 20, an
outer housing 22, a display 24, a base 26, and an aperture 28 defined by the
outer housing 22,
each of which will be described in turn.
[00134] As shown in FIGS. 2-7A, a portable cooling device 200 may include
a housing
9. Housing 9 comprises one or more of outer housing 22, an external lid 18, an
internal lid
21, base 26, air flow compartment or one or more channels 49, and inner
housing 50. The
housing 9 functions to contain one or more components described herein and/or
separate an
internal environment in the portable cooling device from an external
environment outside of
the portable cooling device.
[00135] As shown in FIGS. 2-3B, a portable cooling device 200 may include
external
lid 18. External lid 18 is removably coupled to the outer housing 22 via a
coupling
mechanism, for example, a hinge. External lid 18 is further configured to
couple to the outer
housing 22 via a securing mechanism 20 (e.g., latch, lock, threaded screws,
retaining washer,
etc.) in order to separate an internal environment in the portable cooling
device 200 or
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defined by a housing 9 from an external environment external to or surrounding
the portable
cooling device 200. As shown in FIGS. 3A-3B, external lid 18 includes a lid
surface 19
coupled to a plurality of sidewalls 17, which together define external lid 18.
Securing
mechanism 20 is attached to one of the plurality of sidewalls 17 of external
lid 18 and to
outer housing 22. When external lid 18 is positioned proximally or secured to
outer housing
22 by securing mechanism 20, the securing mechanism 20 is configured to seal
and couple
external lid 18 to outer housing 22.
[00136] FIGS. 4A-4B show a top and bottom view, respectively, of an
internal
component of the lid 21. The internal component of the lid 21 couples to
external lid 18 and
functions to provide insulation to an inner housing 50 where one or more
receptacles are
stored and/or a thermoelectric cooler positioned in the inner housing 50.
External lid 18 is
coupled to internal lid 21with volume 23, shown in FIG. 3B, defined by
external lid 18 and
internal lid 21. Volume 23 defined by the coupling of external lid 18 and
internal lid 21 is
configured to receive insulation, for example foam, fiberglass, cellulose, or
the like.
[00137] FIGS. 2 and 5A-5B show various views of an outer housing 22. The
outer
housing 22 functions as another insulation layer to the inner housing 50 and
thermoelectric
cooler, a protective layer to the inner housing 50, and/or to provide an
aperture for venting
the thermoelectric cooler. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art,
the outer housing
may have any shape: cylindrical, cuboidal, rectangular prism, trapezoidal
prism, etc. As
shown in FIGS. 2 and 5B, outer housing 22 defines aperture 28 proximal to
exhaust fan 6,
such that heat is removed or vented from heat sink by exhaust fan 6 such that
the warm or hot
air from the heat sink is vented from the portable cooling device through
aperture 28. In some
embodiments, outer housing 22 defines more than one aperture 28, for example a
venting
aperture; in other embodiments, outer housing 22 defines at least one aperture
28, for
example a venting aperture. Outer housing 22 optionally includes frame 25
configured to
show a display 24 therethrough.
[00138] FIGs. 6A-6B show an embodiment of a base 26 of a portable cooling
device.
The base 26 functions to maintain the portable cooling device apart from or at
a distance
from a surface on which it rests. Alternatively, as shown and described
elsewhere herein,
base 26 may function or be configured to contact and rest on a surface. The
base 26 includes
or is formed of a curved surface; in other embodiments, the surface may be
flat or planar. The
base 26 defines an aperture 30 that is an intake aperture for exhaust fan 48
to cool the
thermoelectric cooler 40. The base 26 further includes one or more feet 32
which are
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configured to maintain the portable cooling device apart from a surface on
which it rests and
allow more efficient air intake for exhaust fan 48. The feet 32 may further
function to
maintain the portable cooling device dry in damp or wet environments (e.g.,
bathroom,
kitchen, etc.). In some embodiments, the portable cooling device does not
include feet and
instead a base 26 of the device rests on a surface. The base 26 may be
positioned on an end of
a portable cooling device or may extend along a side of a portable cooling
device, as shown
elsewhere herein.
[00139] Turning now to FIGS. 7A-7B, which show an embodiment of an inner
housing 50 of a portable cooling device. The inner housing 50 includes a
columnar structure
but may include any shape or structure. The inner housing 50 functions to
receive a holder for
holding, retaining, containing, or otherwise supporting one or more
receptacles therein.
Further, the inner housing 50 functions to house a core of the portable
cooling device, the
core including one or more fans and a thermoelectric cooler, as described
elsewhere herein.
Alternatively, a core may be positioned proximate to or adjacent to the inner
housing 50 so
that cooled air flows into and/or through inner housing 50. Outer housing 22
and inner
housing 50 define air flow compartment or one or more channels 49 that are
configured to
allow air flow from the cooling side fan and heat sink to the top of the inner
housing 50. In
some embodiments, the one or more channels 49 may also direct the cooled air
from the cold
side of the fan to the top of the inner housing 50 to provide rapid cooling
and maintaining a
uniform temperature throughout the portable cooling device. In some
embodiments, an
insulation compartment resides external to the one or more channels.
[00140] FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of a core 300 of a portable cooling
device. The
core 300 may be positioned in the inner housing 50 or adjacent to or proximate
to inner
housing 50, as shown in FIGS. 7A-7B, and includes compartment fan 38;
thermoelectric
cooler 40 including cold side 42, aluminum heat pipe 44, hot side 46, and
thermoelectric
device 47; and exhaust fan 48, as described elsewhere herein. The compartment
fan 38 and
exhaust fan 48 flank thermoelectric cooler 40, such that cold air from a cold
side 42 of the
thermoelectric cooler is distributed throughout housing and/or to a holder
positioned in
aperture 39 and heat from the hot side and heat sink of the thermoelectric
cooler 40 is vented
to an external environment by exhaust fan 48. Components of core 300 are
positioned relative
to one another using frame 41, which may include dowels, pegs, hypotubes, or
the like.
[00141] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 10, a portable cooling
device includes
a core 350 without any moving parts, for example the core 350 does not include
a
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compartment fan and exhaust fan but includes a thermoelectric cooler 53
including a first
side or cold side 52, aluminum heat pipe 54, thermoelectric device 59, and a
second side or
hot side 56. In some such embodiments, a housing of the portable cooling
device may include
or be formed of one or more materials that act as a heat sink for the
thermoelectric cooler. For
example, a portion of or all of the housing may include or be formed of
aluminum, copper, or
graphene, or other suitable materials known in the art. Alternatively, or
additionally, frame 51
may include or form a portion of a heat sink for the thermoelectric cooler.
Further, in such
embodiments that lack a compartment fan, a compartment within the portable
cooling device
may be cooled via convection (i.e., warmer air rising towards lid of device
and cooler air
settling near the receptacles in the compartment or in a holder).
[00142] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 9, a portable cooling device
includes
a circuit board 400. Circuit board 400 may include a wire wrap board or a
printed circuit
board with display 24, regulator 8, transistor 10, processor 12, power source
14, etc., as
described elsewhere herein. Circuit board 400 may be positioned between base
26 and
housing 22.
[00143] Turning now to FIGs. 17A-17D, which show another embodiment of a
portable cooling device 1700. The portable cooling device 1700 has an open
configuration, as
shown in FIG. 17A, in which an inner housing 1721 of the device 1700 is
accessible. Inner
housing 1721 is configured to store one or more receptacles therein. In an
open configuration,
a lid 1718 of device 1700 is open or at least partially decoupled from the
body or outer
housing 1722, for example via a hinge mechanism, snap fit connection, thread-
based
mechanism, etc. Lid 1718 further defines a depression 1719 therein that forms
part of the
cooling chamber or compartment 1726, as shown in FIG. 17D. Alternatively, lid
1718 may
not define a depression or otherwise may include a fan or another component as
shown and
described elsewhere herein. The cooling chamber or compartment 1726 may be
airtight for
efficient cooling and sufficient cleanliness of the receptacles stored
therein. Insulation 1728
resides in a space defined between the outer housing 1722 and the inner
housing 1721. The
closed configuration of the device 1700 is shown in FIG. 17B, where lid 1718
is coupled or
secured to body or outer housing 1722. The device 1700 may include a lock that
restricts
access to the inner housing. For example, the lock may be a latch that may be
combined with
a lock or may include a built-in lock, for example combination lock, biometric
scanner (e.g.,
facial recognition, fingerprint recognition, etc.), a passcode or password
entry pad, etc. As
shown in FIGs. 17A and 17D, device 1700 may further include one or more
channels 1724
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for distributing airflow at least partially around or along inner housing
1721. The one or more
channels 1724 may extend circumferentially around the inner housing 1721,
extend axially
along a length of the inner housing 1721, communicatively and/or fluidly
couple
compartment fan 1702 and inner housing 1271, etc. The channels 1724 may be
substantially
linear, have a curved pattern, have a chevron pattern, have a wavy pattern,
etc. As shown in
FIG. 17E, airflow, shown by arrow 1727a, may pass through inner housing 1721
and then
through one or more channels 1724. Alternatively, airflow, as shown by arrow
1727b, may
pass through one or more channels 1724 and then through inner housing 1721.
Both
orientations are described in further detail elsewhere herein. Further, as
shown in FIGs. 17A
and 17C, the device 1700 is configured to receive a holder 1714 in the inner
housing 1721.
Holder 1714 includes one or more axially extending slats 1716 defining one or
more or a
plurality of elongated apertures 1715 therebetween. The elongated apertures
1715 may be
simply stylistic; in other embodiments, the elongated apertures 1715 allow
cooled air
circulating through the one or more channels 1724 and/or inner housing 1721 to
more
effectively and/or efficiently cool the receptables held by the holder 1714. A
base of the
holder 1714 may define one or more or a plurality of apertures 1720 that allow
cooled air
generated by the cooling system to be transferred into the holder 1714. Device
1700 may
include, as described elsewhere herein, a cooling core including compartment
fan 1702;
exhaust fan 1706; heat sinks 1704, 1708; cooling element 1710 (e.g.,
thermoelectric cooler);
and heat transfer block 1712. As shown in FIG. 17D, the components of the
cooling core may
reside at least partially within the outer housing 1722 and the inner housing
1721. As an
example, as shown in FIG. 17D, compartment fan 1702 and heat sink 1704 are
positioned at
least partially in the inner housing 1721 while the cooling element 1710, heat
transfer block
1712, heat sink 1708, and exhaust fan 1706 are positioned at least partially
in the outer
housing 1722 or between the inner housing 1721 and the outer housing 1722.
[00144] FIGs. 18A-18B show another embodiment of a portable cooling device
1800.
The embodiment shown in FIGs. 18A-18B is the same as the embodiment shown in
FIGs.
17A-17D, in that device 1800 includes lid 1818; outer housing 1822; one or
more channels
1824; insulation 1828; removably insertable holder 1814; inner housing 1821;
compartment
fan 1802; exhaust fan 1806; heat sinks 1812, 1808; heat transfer block 1812;
and cooling
element 1810. However, as shown in FIGs. 18A-18B, compartment fan 1802 is
positioned in
lid 1818 in the depression 1719 shown in FIG. 17A. Such a configuration (i.e.,
compartment
fan 1802 in lid 1818) may better protect the compartment fan 1802 from liquid
that it may
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otherwise contact when positioned at or near a bottom of inner housing 1821.
However, this
configuration (compartment fan 1802 in lid 1818) may limit a length of a
receptable that is
positionable in cooling compartment 1826 or holder 1814 as compared to the
configuration
(compartment fan 1702 at or near bottom of inner housing 1721) shown in FIG.
17D, since
the cooling compartment 1726 in FIG. 17D is longer than that of cooling
compartment 1826
in FIG. 18B.
[00145] FIGs. 19A-19C show various embodiments of a holder coupled to a
lid 1918
of a portable cooling device 1900. The holder may include a rail system 1930
for storing one
or more receptacles. The holder may include at least two rails 1930 that are
parallel to and set
apart from one another. The at least two rails 1930 are coupled to lid 1918 at
attachment
point 1932 and extend axially from lid 1918. The at least two rails 1930
define a storage
space 1934 therebetween for storing one or more receptacles therein. A
sidewall 1915 may
extend between the at least two rails 1930 to further defined storage space
1934. Plate 1920
may join the at least two rails 1930 at an end opposite the lid 1918 and may,
optionally,
define one or more apertures therein for allowing cooled air to more readily
interact with the
holder and thus the receptacles therein. Plate 1920 may be parallel to lid
1918 when rails
1930 extend therebetween. Storage space 1934 defined by the at least two rails
1930 may be
further defined by cover 1936 that couples to one or more of: one or more of
rails 1930, lid
1918, and plate 1920 to fully enclose storage space 1934. As shown in FIG.
19A, lid 1918
may define a depression 1919 therein or, as shown in FIGs. 19B-19C, may
include a flat or
substantially flat inner surface 1917.
[00146] FIGs. 20A-20B show another embodiment of a portable cooling device
2000.
The portable cooling device 2000 is shown in a closed configuration in FIG.
20A and an open
configuration in FIG. 20B. Device 2000 includes a first end 2038a opposite a
second end
2038b. The first end 2038a includes compartment fan 2002 and the second end
2038b
includes the exhaust fan, heat sinks, cooling element, and heat transfer
block, similar to that
shown in FIG. 18B. Alternatively, device 2000 may include all the cooling
components (e.g.,
fans, heat sinks, cooling element, heat transfer block, etc.) in the second
end 2038b similar to
that shown in FIG. 17D. Outer housing 2022 and inner housing 2021 define an
insulation
space or region 2028. Hatch or lid 2040 and inner housing 2021 define cooling
chamber 2026
for receiving a holder and/or one or more receptacles therein. As shown in
FIGs. 20A-20B,
hatch or lid 2040 is positioned on a side of device 2000 in a sidewall of
device 2000 as
opposed to an end of device 2000 as shown and described elsewhere herein. The
hatch or lid
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2040 couples and decouples, reversibly, from body 2022 via any mechanism known
in the
art, for example, a hinged mechanism, snap-fit connection, spring-loaded, etc.
Device 2000
may further include one or more channels 2024 for circulating cooled air at
least partially
around chamber 2026. The one or more channels 2024 may extend an axially
length of outer
housing 2022 or an axially length of cooling chamber 2026. Cooling chamber
2026 may
extend into the first end 2038a, where the first end 2038a defines cavity 2042
for circulating
air. Cavity 2042 may be defined by compartment fan 2002 and first end 2038a.
[00147] FIG. 21 shows another embodiment of a portable cooling device 2200
including an axially extending base 2244 and a user input element 2246 on a
sidewall of a
body of the device. As shown in FIG. 21, device 2200 includes an axially
extending base
2244 along a sidewall of body 2222 (as opposed to a base on an end of the
device, as
described elsewhere herein). Base 2244 extends between a first or lid end
2238a and a
second end 2238b of device 220. Base 2244 may include or be formed of one or
more feet
and/or may be formed of or include a panel that is substantially or about the
same width W as
device 2200. In any of the embodiments described herein, a portable cooling
device may be
configured to operate both when positioned on base 2244 and when positioned on
second end
2238b (also shown as base 26 in FIGs. 6A-6B). The fans, heat transfer block,
heat sinks,
cooling element, etc. may reside in a second end 2238b of device 2200 (e.g.,
similar to FIG.
17D); in a first end 2238a and a second end 223b (e.g., similar to FIG. 18B);
or at least
partially in base 2244. As shown in FIG. 23, axially extending base 2444 of
portable cooling
device 2400 includes an exhaust fan 2406; one or more heat sinks 2404, heat
transfer block
2403, and a cooling element 2405 therein while a compartment fan 2402 resides
in cooling
chamber or inner housing 2450. Inner housing 2450 may further include one or
more axially
extending storage chambers 2452. Storage chambers 2452 may be sized and/or
shaped to
receive a holder therein and/or a syringe, pen, or other elongate receptable
therein. A number
of storage chambers 2452 may be adjustable, for example during manufacturing
or during use
(e.g., user may add or remove storage chambers from inner housing 2450). The
storage
chambers 2452 may be fixedly positioned in inner housing 2450 or removably
positioned in
inner housing 2450 such that a number and/or distribution of the storage
chambers may be
adjusted. In some embodiments, a storage chamber is equivalent to a holder
such that they
may be used interchangeably.
[00148] Any of the devices herein may include a user input element (e.g.,
button,
switch, etc.) anywhere on the device or body of the device for releasing a lid
of the device,
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turning on the device, adjusting a parameter of the device (e.g., temperature,
connection
status, etc.), etc. As shown in FIG. 21, in one non-limiting example, device
2200 includes a
user input element 2246 near or approximate or adjacent to a lid 2218 of
device 2200 to
release a latch for lid 2218 so that the contents of device 2200 may be
accessed. As another
non-limiting example, as shown in FIG. 22, a user input element 2246 may be
located on a
lid 2218 of the device. Further, in any of the embodiments described herein, a
body or outer
housing of a portable cooling device may further define an aperture 2248 for
venting warm
air from the portable cooling device using an exhaust fan.
[00149] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 24, a portable cooling
device 2500
may include outer housing 2522 and lid 2518; a cooling chamber or inner
housing 2550 that
includes a compartment fan 2502, heat sinks 2504, 2508, cooling element 2510,
heat transfer
block 2512, and exhaust fan 2506 therein; and one or more storage chambers
2552 arranged
around an outer perimeter 2551 of cooling chamber 2550 or arranged
substantially
concentrically around cooling chamber 2550. Storage chambers 2552 may be sized
and/or
shaped to receive a syringe, pen, or other elongate receptable therein. A
number of storage
chambers 2552 may be adjustable, for example during manufacturing or during
use (e.g., user
may add or remove storage chambers from cooling chamber 2550). The storage
chambers
2552 may be fixedly positioned around cooling chamber 2550 or removably
positioned
around inner housing 2550 such that a number and/or distribution of the
storage chambers
may be adjusted.
[00150] Turning now to FIG. 15, which shows a method 1500 of cooling a
receptacle
using a portable cooling device including: receiving a first input voltage and
a desired
internal environment temperature (e.g., via an input display or computing
device) in the
portable cooling device S1510; measuring a current internal environment
temperature (using
an internal temperature probe) in the portable cooling device S1520;
calculating a first
temperature differential between the desired internal environment temperature
and the current
internal environment temperature S1530; receiving a second input voltage that
differs from
the first input voltage S1540; and calculating a second temperature
differential between the
desired internal environment temperature and the current internal environment
temperature
S1550.
[00151] In some embodiments, the method further includes comparing the
first
temperature differential to the second temperature differential; and
outputting to a user a
recommended input voltage or a desire input power to the thermoelectric cooler
to achieve a
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desired temperature differential. In some embodiments, the method further
includes
comparing the first temperature differential to the second temperature
differential; and
automatically adjusting the input voltage or a power to the thermoelectric
cooler to achieve a
desired temperature differential and/or internal temperature.
[00152] As shown in FIG. 16, a method 1600 of cooling a receptacle using a
portable
cooling device includes receiving a first input voltage or an input power and
a desired
internal environment temperature in the portable cooling device S1610;
measuring a current
internal environment temperature (using an internal temperature probe) in the
portable
cooling device S1620; calculating a temperature differential between the
desired internal
environment temperature and the current internal environment temperature
S1630; and
varying the input voltage or the input power to the thermoelectric cooler to
achieve the
desired internal environment temperature in the portable cooling device S1640.
[00153] In some embodiments, block S1640 is performed automatically by the
portable cooling device or on-demand or manually by a user.
[00154] In some embodiments, the input voltage may be 2 V, 3 V, 4 V, 5 V,
6 V, 7 V,
8 V, 9 V, 10 V, 11 V, 12 V, 13 V, 14 V, or 15V. The input voltage may be 1-5
V, 5-10 V, 10-
15 V, 1-3 V, 3-5 V, 5-7 V, 5-9 V, 9-11 V, 11-13 V, or 13-15 V. The input
voltage may be 4.8
V to 5.2 V, 5.2 V to 5.6 V, 5.6 V to 6 V, 6 V to 6.4 V, 6.4 V to 6.8 V, or 6.8
V to 7.2 V. The
input voltage may be at least 2 V, at least 3 V, at least 4 V, at least 5 V,
at least 6 V, at least 7
V, at least 8 V, at least 9 V, at least 10 V, at least 11 V, at least 12 V, at
least 13 V, at least 14
V, or at least 15 V.
[00155] In some embodiments, a first input voltage is less than a second
input voltage
resulting in the first temperature differential being less than the second
temperature
differential. In some embodiments, the first input voltage is 5 volts and the
second input
voltage is 6 volts. In some embodiments, the first input voltage is more than
the second input
voltage resulting in the first temperature differential being greater than the
second
temperature differential.
[00156] In some embodiments, the first input voltage is different than the
second input
voltage.
[00157] In some embodiments, a desired internal environment temperature is
based on
a prescribed or required temperature for a receptacle, cosmetic, drug,
pharmaceutical, etc.
positioned in the portable cooling device, for example in a holder in the
portable cooling
device. In some embodiments, a desired internal environment temperature is
based on a
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changing external environment, for example during commuting, transporting,
environmental
temperature fluctuations, frequency of opening and closing the portable
cooling device, etc.
[00158] In some embodiments, a temperature or temperature differential may
be
displayed on a display of the portable cooling device and/or computing device
(e.g., remote
computing device, mobile computing device, server, etc.).
[00159] In some embodiments, varying a power supplied to the
thermoelectric cooler
enables a capacity of the thermoelectric cooler to be increased. For example,
if a user is in a
72 F room, the unit can cool adequately at 5v and use just one amp or less, so
it can run off a
USB powered port or a standard external cellphone battery. But if a user is
outside in a 95 F
environment, the user could use up to a 12v wall transformer that can supply
up to 3 amps to
get enough cooling from the unit. The cooling capability can be varied based
on a power
level supplied to the thermoelectric cooler.
[00160] In some embodiments, method 1500 and/or 1600 includes any of the
embodiments of a portable cooling device described and/or contemplated herein
and/or
available to one of skill in the art. For example, the portable cooling device
may or may not
be communicatively coupled to a computing device, may or may not include one
or more
fans, may or may not include a display, may or may not include an antenna,
etc.
[00161] In some embodiments, one or more steps of method 1500 and/or 1600
are
performed by processor 12 as shown in FIG. 1, such that circuit board 400
includes a
computer-readable medium having non-transitory, processor-executable
instructions stored
thereon. Execution of the instructions causes the processor to perform one or
more methods
described elsewhere herein.
[00162] The systems and methods of the preferred embodiment and variations
thereof
can be embodied and/or implemented at least in part as a machine configured to
receive a
computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions. The
instructions are
preferably executed by computer-executable components preferably integrated
with the
system and one or more portions of the processor in the portable cooling
device and/or
computing device. The computer-readable medium can be stored on any suitable
computer-
readable media such as RAMs, ROMs, flash memory, EEPROMs, optical devices
(e.g., CD
or DVD), hard drives, floppy drives, or any suitable device. The computer-
executable
component is preferably a general or application-specific processor, but any
suitable
dedicated hardware or hardware/firmware combination can alternatively or
additionally
execute the instructions.
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EXAMPLE 1
[00163] Turning now to FIG. 14 which shows a graphical representation of a
temperature differential (y-axis; AT F) between an external environment
(i.e., outside of the
portable cooling device) and an internal environment (i.e., in the portable
cooling device) as a
function of input voltage (V) (x-axis) into the portable cooling device. For
example, using the
portable cooling devices described herein and as shown in FIG. 14, an input
voltage of 5V
resulted in a temperature differential of 32.8 F between the external
environment and the
internal environment; an input voltage of 5.5V resulted in a temperature
differential of 36 F;
and an input voltage of 6V resulted in a temperature differential of 39.2 F.
Taken together,
increasing an input voltage increases an achievable temperature differential
between an
internal environment and an external environment.
EXAMPLE 2
[00164] Further, Table 1 shown below depicts temperature accuracy
measurements for
competitor products versus the portable cooling devices shown and described
herein. A
BlueMaestro Tempo Disc Blue-Tooth Sensor Beacon thermometer was calibrated
(i.e.,
temperature in various conditions was monitored over several days) and
positioned inside
each device to measure an actual temperature versus a temperature reported by
the device
(i.e., displayed temperature). As shown in Table 1, a displayed temperature
and actual
temperature are vastly different (by at least 14 F) for the competitor
product while the
portable cooling devices described herein have a similar temperature between
the displayed
temperature and the actual temperature.
Table 1. Temperature Accuracy Measurements
Device Displayed Temp. ( F) Actual Temp. ( F) Delta Temp.
(displayed vs. actual)
DISON BC-170A 39 53.1 14.1
Shenzenn 37 47.1 10.1
HEALTH Cooler
box
Suzhou GoMore 42 51.6 9.6
Portable Cooling 31 34 3
Device
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[00165] As used in the description and claims, the singular form "a", "an" and
"the" include
both singular and plural references unless the context clearly dictates
otherwise. For
example, the term "thermoelectric cooler" or "fan" may include, and is
contemplated to
include, a plurality of thermoelectric coolers or fans. At times, the claims
and disclosure may
include terms such as "a plurality," "one or more," or "at least one;"
however, the absence of
such terms is not intended to mean, and should not be interpreted to mean,
that a plurality is
not conceived.
[00166] The term "about" or "approximately," when used before a numerical
designation or
range (e.g., to define a length or pressure), indicates approximations which
may vary by ( + )
or ( -) 5%, 1% or 0.1%. All numerical ranges provided herein are inclusive of
the stated start
and end numbers. The term "substantially" indicates mostly (i.e., greater than
50%) or
essentially all of a device or system.
[00167] As used herein, the term "comprising" or "comprises" is intended to
mean that the
devices, systems, and methods include the recited elements, and may
additionally include any
other elements. "Consisting essentially of' shall mean that the devices,
systems, and
methods include the recited elements and exclude other elements of essential
significance to
the combination for the stated purpose. Thus, a system or method consisting
essentially of
the elements as defined herein would not exclude other materials, features, or
steps that do
not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s) of the claimed
disclosure.
"Consisting of' shall mean that the devices, systems, and methods include the
recited
elements and exclude anything more than a trivial or inconsequential element
or step.
Embodiments defined by each of these transitional terms are within the scope
of this
disclosure.
[00168] The examples and illustrations included herein show, by way of
illustration
and not of limitation, specific embodiments in which the subject matter may be
practiced.
Other embodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structural
and logical
substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of this
disclosure.
Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred to herein
individually or
collectively by the term "invention" merely for convenience and without
intending to
voluntarily limit the scope of this application to any single invention or
inventive concept, if
more than one is in fact disclosed. Thus, although specific embodiments have
been
illustrated and described herein, any arrangement calculated to achieve the
same purpose may
be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended
to cover any
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and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the
above
embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be
apparent to
those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description.
31
